Mayor Rob Ford says “Transit City is over” and all future transit expansion in Toronto will be underground.

The bold first remarks from the mayor, who assumed office on Wednesday, came on his way to the cafeteria as he was mobbed by media camped outside of his office. Mr. Ford said he arrived at City Hall at 6:15 a.m. on Wednesday and promptly met with Gary Webster, the chief general manager of the Toronto Transit Commission.

“I wanted to make quite clear that he understood that Transit City is over, the war on the car is over and all new subway expansion is going underground, and that’s pretty well it,” Mr. Ford told reporters. “I just told him that everything moving forward is underground and he accepted that, and I look forward to working with him.”

that the provincial government has already spent $130-million on the light-rail network known as Transit City, and signed $1.3-billion worth of contracts. She admitted it will be difficult to move ahead with that plan if city council opposes it. She said city council has to sign off on any change to the plan.

The province has earmarked $3.1-billion for the first phase of LRT lines. During the campaign, Mr. Ford said he wants the province to redirect that funding to build a subway across Sheppard and convert the Scarborough LRT into a subway. Ms. Wynne said this week there is no more money available.

“Lets stopped the gravy train but not the trains that have already been approved,” said Councillor Josh Matlow, who represents the midtown ward of St. Pauls, through which an LRT along Eglinton would run. “The mayor is one of 45 members of council. He has a mandate to submit his plan to council, it’s up to council to decide the future of Transit City.”

Asked on Wednesday how Toronto will afford subways, Mr. Ford said: “I’m going to talk to Mr. McGuinty and I’m going to take it from there.”